I'm trying to fill up my box with some general spring fly patterns for the South Central PA area for trout. I'm not a big "match the hatch" believer, so some general patterns will be fine. So far I have -

Dry - Parachute Adams, Caddis Elk

Wet - Hare's Ear

Nymph - Bead head Phesant tail

Streamer - Clouser's, Wooly Buggers (Are they really a streamer?)

Thanks for your help

-Chris

Posted on: 2007/3/13 15:25

_________________
A bad day fishing is better than your best day at work.

Chris,I would also have some midges. I use a griffith gnat to immitate midges a lot. I just think it is a lot easier to see than a regular midge pattern. I would also get some prince nymphs. Blue wing olives also work very well in the spring.

jayL wrote:I would add a light colored mayfly pattern like a light cahill or sulphur to the dries.

To the nymphs, either a hare's ear or a zug bug. I'd also tie some of them without the bead, as a greased nymph doubles as an emerger.

I'd also add at least two of: green weenies, zebra midges, globugs.

you do realize that by the time this thread fizzles out you'll have a copy of every fly made..... except don's sculpin of course.

Jay,

Spring is a little early for the light colored mayflies. Try the darker ones first. Adams for a general pattern, but to be specific, Hendricksons, Quill Gordons, (on the cleanest of water) and then the Stenonemas in May (Grey Fox[Fucsum], March Brown[Vicarium], and finally Cahills[Canendensis] closer to June) But with a grey to tan bottom on your fly and some grizzley hackle for legs you should be all set. This will cover the QGs as well in a #14.

And also...don't forget the early black Stonefly. My favorite early fly. Coming off at a stream near you right now.

Maurice

Posted on: 2007/3/13 20:00

_________________Don't hit me with them negative waves so early in the morning. Think the bridge will be there and it will be there. It's a mother, beautiful bridge, and it's gonna be there. Ok?

Me, I am at a loss. I hit Loyalhanna twice. The second time on some pretty good inside info. Got skunked both times. I threw the box at them. And I could have sworn that I say one take something from the top but after 1/2 an hour throwing several different dries to him I decided it must have been a figment of my imagination.

If you are hitting any spring creeks I ALWAYS go to a sowbug or fat looking muskrat nymph.

Stick with you flies you tied: EH Caddis and Adams dry, Wet HE, PT nymph, and a couple of Clousers and buggers. You will probably catch as many or more fish than all of us obsessive hatch matchers. K.I.S.S. nearly always works. Good luck

good point. my thinking was... I was figuring the adams would be good early spring, the lighter ones for later, once the sulphurs start in my neck of the woods (may, june... both of which I still consider spring, since I'd still be in classes).

In terms of attractor nymphs, probably the best new (to me anyway..) fly I've fished in the last 15 years is the Pink Squirrel. It originated (allegedly, but who knows) on the spring creeks of SW Wisconsin, but I have yet to fish it anywhere where it did not work very well. I've caught trout on it in WI, IA, PA, OR, UT, NC, TN and WA. It is particularly good in water that is just a tad out of whack or off color or in limestones like the ones in SC PA. And I'll bet there are darn few trout in PA that have ever seen one. And, IMO, that matters...

Since meteorologists are only correct about half the time, I will stick with the astronomical designations based upon the earth's position in orbit around the sun. At least we know that the sun rises in the East and sets in the West every day, regardless of what a meteorologist might have to say on the subject.

Posted on: 2007/3/14 13:34

_________________ "Only nature is good, only the natural is human,..."

Here, however, we are experiencing the consequences of the doctrine, lately preached from all the rooftops, that the state is the highest goal of mankind....